Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel works the sideline in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright) Don Wright, AP

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Justin Hunter (11) makes a catch for a touchdown as Tennessee Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) defends in the first quarter of an NFL football game, , Dec. 31, 2099, in Pittsburgh. The play was originally ruled as incomplete, but was overturned, and ruled a touchdown on review. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich) Fred Vuich, AP

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Justin Hunter (11) makes a catch for a touchdown as Tennessee Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) defends in the first quarter of an NFL football game, , Dec. 31, 2099, in Pittsburgh. The play was originally ruled as incomplete, but was overturned, and ruled a touchdown on review. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich) Fred Vuich, AP

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel walks through the team as the warm up before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich) Fred Vuich, AP

The worst part about being this deep into the NFL preseason is that even the complaints about it have gotten old and tired. Assurances that the action on the field is inconsequential are nearly as grating as the inconsequential action itself. So with three Titans preseason losses down and one exhibition left – Thursday at Nissan Stadium against Minnesota – let’s talk about what does matter for the Titans.

Like injuries. Rookie outside linebacker Harold Landry has one, an ankle, which puts the Titans’ top three pass rushers on the shelf along with the first-round linebacker (Rashaan Evans), free-agent signee cornerback (Malcolm Butler), star tight end (Delanie Walker) and right tackle (Jack Conklin).

Maybe all will play in the Sept. 9 season opener at Miami. No. 1 receiver Rishard Matthews came off the physically unable to perform, or PUP, list Sunday, a major positive for him and Tennessee's offense. The only confirmed long-term hit to a starter has been safety Johnathan Cyprien’s season-ending knee injury, and so far Kenny Vaccaro looks like he will be fine in his place. But that’s still a lot of missed reps for a lot of important players.

There’s no telling how long it will take Evans to be a factor on the field this season. The offensive line needs Conklin, and he might start the season on the PUP list, which would require him to sit the first six weeks of the season. Even if he’s active, he might not be ready right away, and the schedule gets serious right away.

So yes, injuries qualify as a concern. The best injury news is that of Corey Davis, the No. 1 receiver in waiting, who is out there doing everything. And he has looked capable and just needs to get on the same page with Marcus Mariota when it matters.

Speaking of Mariota, he was the talk of Saturday’s 16-6 loss at Pittsburgh because he was bad. He was good in previous, brief doses. We will see when he has everyone around him and an actual game plan. Blaine Gabbert’s preseason has reinforced the importance of Mariota not joining the list of the ailing.

Dion Lewis looks like a weapon. Derrick Henry has had moments, and both of them could use better blocking. Better pass blocking would help, too. The Titans’ No. 1 offensive line was subpar Saturday. It regressed from 2016 to 2017, and I think it qualifies as a concern now – especially until Conklin is back.

"They’ve improved. They've been playing better," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of his first-team offensive line Sunday, after reviewing the film. "And they have to be able to match up to the matchup, handle it better. "

Landry has flashed and will help this team as a pass rusher. The pass rush needs to be better than it has been, but the expected returns of Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan obviously should matter there.

Jayon Brown has done good things in an expanded opportunity. Butler is going to help and the Titans are going to have a quality secondary. Adoree’ Jackson and Kevin Byard keep getting better. It still looks to me like Jurrell Casey and the starters on the defensive front could use more depth behind them.

The overall preseason product has been uninspiring. The Titans have been outscored 77-37, outgained 1,151 to 852 and have been penalized 34 times for 309 yards.

But yeah, I can throw the wet blanket of rationalization on those numbers. The starters have been outscored 17-14. Of those penalties, just five happened when the Titans’ starters were on the field. And again and again and again – these games are severely limited in foretelling the regular season.

The preseason 4-0 Browns of 2017 (regular season record of 0-16) and the preseason 0-4 Bills of 1990 (regular season record of 13-3 followed by Super Bowl run) come to mind. Vrabel was asked Sunday about what translates from the preseason to the regular season and said he might remember two preseason games from his 14-year NFL career.

I think the exact same thing about this team as I did before these exhibitions. I think it has a defense that should be solid or better, an offense with more questions but ample upside, and legitimate aspirations to win the AFC South and make a postseason run. If injuries pile up and a few key guys don’t come through, it could stumble into the 7-9 range. With health and prosperity, it can win 11.

Thursday’s preseason finale will be least telling of all. But it will bring about the best part of the NFL preseason. The end.

Reach Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.